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Armed robber pistol whips couple

Posted: Friday, March 07, 2003

ANCHORAGE (AP) An Anchorage couple was pistol whipped during an attempted robbery Thursday morning outside their home in east Anchorage, police said.

The couple had returned to their home when the attack occurred. As the man got out of the car, he was knocked to the ground by the armed man. The attacker then reached into the car where the wife was sitting. He demanded money, and when the woman told him she had none, he hit her with the butt of his pistol, police said.

The attacker was scared away when the wife reached for a knife. The couple's screams also alerted other family members inside their home.

Both the husband and wife were treated at Alaska Regional Hospital's emergency room for swelling and abrasions to their heads and arms.

Police found the stock of the pistol used in the attack. They said the .45-caliber had five rounds of ammunition in it.